The Versatile Master Artist

In simple terms, when you visit the museum to see Ingres’ most famous works, seventy percent are young ladies.

And half of those young ladies are not wearing clothes.

In layman’s terms…

Uncle Sakai was famous back in the day for painting the naked flesh of beautiful girls exceptionally well.

From a highbrow perspective, Uncle Sakai elevated the human body to an artistic level that is emotional but not vulgar, beautiful but not tawdry.

From a lowbrow perspective…

Well, aside from Professor Yakai Ichiro’s paintings of young ladies selling for over one million dollars each,

they’re not much different from online erotic art, right!

Thinking from this angle.

It’s understandable that Koshiba Kentaro, who is closest to Klimt’s style, the Austrian painter who proclaimed “art is eroticism” throughout Vienna in the 19th century, would reach out to Professor Yajima for deeper collaboration.

Sakai of Japan and Ingres of Japan—after all, they both study painting young ladies, like-minded people gravitate towards each other.

Of course, this focus in painting within the art field is absolutely normal.

What’s wrong with liking to paint girls?

Girls are art! Young ladies are the walking Muse Goddess.

From Ingres to Picasso, from Rococo to avant-garde art, which great Western painter doesn’t paint girls!

But a person whose profession daily is painting various young ladies, patting his big belly, wakes up feeling like he’s going to become a Buddha.

Come on.

Do check with Buddha at Asakusa Temple if he really agrees.

Gu Weijing tugged at his lips.

He really refrained from asking this question because Uncle Sakai is Yakai Shengzi’s dad.

Forget it.

Reflecting on his emotional state just now, Gu Weijing was still a bit scared.

Since Shengzi wanted him to let things happen naturally, he should wait a while then.

He believes his girlfriend certainly doesn’t speak without purpose.

“Let’s go. Although I can’t help you achieve the final enlightenment, I can help you sort out your thoughts. I’ve seen my mom do similar things for my dad.”

Koizumi Katsuko handed Ah Wang in her arms over to Gu Weijing to hold, then went to the overturned table beside to organize a small bag, “We’ll talk more at the lake; it’s quieter there.”

Ah Wang was still a little upset.

The tabby cat turned its head away, not looking at Gu Weijing, but proudly straightened its back and stretched its neck, indicating it wanted petting.

“Alright, alright, I won’t push you next time. Honestly, you have gained some weight.”

Gu Weijing softly tended to the cat, pressing a few spots along its skeletal seams, enjoying the sensation that made Ah Wang stick out its little tongue, finally stopping.

“Sunrise in the East, the mind rests in peace.”

Gu Weijing thought of the state Koizumi Katsuko described.

“Shengzi?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I think there’s no need to be so complicated. Just kiss me again—whatever wisteria, ‘Hundred Flowers Painting’, look at me, I’ll be knocked out immediately.”

He was joking.

Gu Weijing was indeed in a very good mood and couldn’t resist teasing Koizumi Katsuko.

Miss Sakai slung the organized small backpack over her shoulder, and her posture froze.

Just then, when she kissed him, Koizumi Katsuko was very brave, not thinking of anything unnecessary, just wanting to “snatch” Gu Weijing out from the abyss of low emotions.

Now, reminiscing, her face was as crimson as if soaked in blood.

Despite feeling shy.

Koizumi Katsuko did not display any coy or bashful demeanor; on the contrary, she seemed very seriously contemplating.

“As for that—”

Just as Gu Weijing’s heartbeat began uncontrollably accelerating again.

“It depends on your performance thereafter!”

Koizumi Katsuko adorably blinked her eyes at Gu Weijing.

The young couple gazed into each other’s eyes, feeling a wave of tender affection resonating within both their hearts.

All budding love originates from the secretion of neurotransmitters between hormones, and this small emotional fluctuation can draw two hearts closer.

Gu Weijing suddenly smiled.

“What are you laughing at?”

Koizumi Katsuko curiously asked.

“I thought of our earlier conversation. It oddly felt a bit like an old married couple.”

“Did it?” Koizumi Katsuko lightly furrowed her brow.

“Earlier when I requested to paint for five minutes, you decisively shook your head and refused, which reminded me of my uncle asking his wife to play billiards with a client, only to get scolded.”

“I’ll just play a few rounds, socializing, can’t avoid it, guaranteed to be home by midnight! And every time my aunt would reply, “

Gu Weijing mimicked an older aunt’s tone: “No way; if you step out today, you’ll sleep on the sofa this week.”

“Shengzi, I always thought you were very gentle. Unexpectedly, the authoritative appearance of refusal just now somewhat resembled my aunt. Sakai, by the way, it turns out you have a strict side to you too.”

Gu Weijing nodded.

“Hmm… really? I always felt I’m quite gentle.”

Koizumi Katsuko rolled her eyes at Gu Weijing, dissatisfied with being likened to a middle-aged aunt.

“I’ll also mention, Gu Weijing, when I said earlier to watch your performance, your performance right now isn’t very good.” Koizumi Katsuko said lightly.

“Don’t be mad, I was just joking.”

“So was I.”

Another burst of joyful laughter.

In the Yangon Royal Botanical Garden, the water system is well-developed, with the lake at the center of the park and surrounding waterways.

When built two hundred years ago, it considered the leisure needs of the senior British colonial officials residing in Southeast Asia.

Here, they could maintain the elegance of British gentlemen, just like during their Eton and Oxford days, enjoying a cup of afternoon tea and leisurely playing English-style rowing.

Even today, rowing fees remain one of the garden’s routine main revenue sources and employee subsidies.

The two wisteria trees that Gu Weijing was fond of were felled during the pier expansion a few years back.

So.

When he stepped onto the wooden pier, holding Koizumi Katsuko’s hand to board a small boat, there was always a very peculiar feeling.

Koizumi Katsuko did not rent the slender, feather-like double kayak that swiftly skims across the lake, resembling black duck feathers but a small fishing boat akin to an East Xia Upturned Boat.

This type of small fishing boat can accommodate one to six tourists.

The boat has a canopy for shade, and in the middle, there’s a bamboo mat similar to tatami on which one can nap.

You can row it yourself or hire a professional rower at ten dollars an hour and can also hire a local ebony curved zither master for thirty dollars to play at the bow.

Regardless, tourists who board such boats have more enthusiasm for experiencing local culture than rowing.

In all Southeast Asian cities where services are primary, you can find local workers to substitute for almost any physical labor, as long as you have money.

Koizumi Katsuko aimed to help Gu Weijing find a suitable breakthrough opportunity.

The girl wanted to create a world where they could calm their minds, a world just for themselves, without even inviting Uncle Ah Lai and Jasmine.

Therefore, hiring someone to be an extra wasn’t in their interest.

It was just the two of them and a cat; they took over a fishing boat and initially, Gu Weijing was a bit clumsy, with Koizumi Katsuko, they only managed to row a dozen meters, spinning several rounds on the lake surface.

Luckily, after being together for a while, they had developed a good tacit understanding, and after a few practice rounds, they understood each other well.

The two didn’t seek speed; they leisurely rowed the fishing boat to the lake’s center.

“Alright, let’s stop here.”

Koizumi Katsuko clapped her hands, indicating that they could let the boat drift on the vast lake surface.

“Now, Mr. Gu, you can search for the painting state you wish for, but don’t use a brush, use your heart.”

“Use my heart?”

Gu Weijing intertwined his fingers: “Your meaning is, just let me stare at the lake surface and daydream? Meditate?”

A lone boat, suspended over water waves, literary scholars alone at the bow, meditating, comprehending painting’s true essence.

Such artistically rendered scenes, Gu Weijing indeed has heard before.

However.

Such gallant pursuits typical in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, expecting someone like him, an eighteen-year-old lad to attempt.

The difficulty seems a bit too high!